Looking Back
It seems, at least in retrospect, that all the phases of my life have been challenging, but successful and enjoyable. My early childhood on a farm in Archery during the Great Depression, mostly isolated with my own family and my black playmates, was relatively deprived compared to life with modern-day advantages. Still, I have the fondest memories of those days, even without running water or electricity and when I was required to work as hard as anyone. There was a warm and protected feeling, encapsulated with my parents and siblings, and it is hard to remember the discomforts or unpleasant family relationships.
My years in college and the navy were especially gratifying, as Rosalynn and I set up housekeeping and welcomed our growing family. The hardships I shared with my peers were tempered by my enjoyable experiences, and I reached every goal that a young officer could desire. My submarine service was good training in meeting challenges, and an item that appealed to voters when I ran for public office.
As a farmer and businessman for seventeen years, I established a sound financial base for my family, learned how to deal with hundreds of customers, and formed a long overdue partnership with Rosalynn in all the aspects of life.
I have already discussed my years in public office, and I am grateful for having that experience. I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals, and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do in our later years.
The life we have now is the best of all. We have an expanding and harmonious family, a rich life in our church and the Plains community, and a diversity of projects at The Carter Center that is adventurous and exciting. Rosalynn and I have visited more than 145 countries, and both of us are as active as we have ever been. We are blessed with good health and look to the future with eagerness and confidence, but are prepared for inevitable adversity when it comes.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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I am very grateful to Alice Mayhew and the other editors and designers at Simon & Schuster. This is the twelfth book that they have helped with their beneficial suggestions and questions. For more than thirty-five years, Dr. Steven Hochman has closely examined the texts of my books, to help ensure their accuracy and clarity, and the contributions of my wife, Rosalynn, have been invaluable. My secretary, Lauren Gay, has joined the staff of our presidential library in helping to choose the paintings and photographs that are interspersed throughout the book.
JIMMY CARTER was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. In 1982, he and his wife founded The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people around the world. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He is the author of more than two dozen books, including An Hour Before Daylight, Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, and Our Endangered Values. He lives in Plains, Georgia.
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ALSO BY JIMMY CARTER
* * *
A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power
NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter
Through the Year with Jimmy Carter: 366 Daily Meditations from the 39th President
White House Diary
We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land
A Remarkable Mother
Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope
Palestine Peace Not Apartheid
Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis
Sharing Good Times
The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War
The Nobel Peace Prize Lecture
Christmas in Plains: Memories (illustrated by Amy Carter)
An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood
The Virtues of Aging
Sources of Strength: Meditations on Scripture for a Living Faith
Living Faith
The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer (illustrated by Amy Carter)
Always a Reckoning and Other Poems
Talking Peace: A Vision for the Next Generation
Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age
An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections
Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life (with Rosalynn Carter)
The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East
Negotiation: The Alternative to Hostility
Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President
A Government as Good as Its People
Why Not the Best?
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ILLUSTRATION CREDITS
* * *
Courtesy of the author and artist, pages 6, 9, 15, 18, 27, 37, 153, 205, 209, 231.
Courtesy of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Carter Family Photo Collection, pages 50, 54, 120.
Courtesy of the United States Navy, page 60.
Charles Rafshoon, courtesy of the Estate of Charles Rafshoon, page 74.
Courtesy of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, pages 82, 115, 194, 233.
Photograph by Louise Gubb, page 213.
Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity International. Photograph by Ezra Millstein, page 224.
INDEX
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A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function.
Page numbers in italics refer to paintings and photographs.
Abbas, Mahmoud, 219–20
abortion issue, 112, 181, 183–84
as ongoing, 200–201
Abourezk, James, 161
Adams, John, 118
Afghanistan, 151, 181
Soviet invasion of, 146, 150, 187, 203
AFL-CIO, 182
Africa, 140, 168, 216, 235
Carter Center programs for, 208, 210–12
Cuban involvement in, 186–87
See also specific countries
African-Americans, 101–4
Carter family’s relationships with, 7, 26, 28, 66, 227
discrimination against, see racial discrimination; segregation
JC’s boyhood friendships with, 11–12, 22, 24–25, 33, 227, 237
on JC’s staff, 113–14, 142
JC supported by, 99, 114
in LBJ’s election campaign, 90–91
in Republican party, 28
women’s prison population of, 178
Agnew, Spiro, 106
agriculture, Carter Center’s programs in Africa for, 211–12
see also farming
Ahtisaari, Martti, 189
Alabama, 59, 80, 87, 91
Alaska, 226
oil exploration in, 170–71, 199
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), 169–71, 199, 202, 203
Albania, 150
Albright, Madeleine, 215
Algeria, 129
Allen, Jimmy, 132–33
All the President’s Men, 121
Always a Reckoning (Jimmy Carter), 10–11, 227
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), 220
Americus, Ga., 4, 38, 78, 87, 89, 104
Amin, Idi, 142
Ancestors of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter (Jeffrey Carter), 4
Andrews, Frank, 55, 58
Andrus, Cecil, 170
Angola, Cuban troops in, 187
Annapolis, U.S. Naval
Academy at, 30, 103, 178–79
JC’s education at, 33–36, 42, 53, 63
Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1986), 178
Antiquities Act (1906), 170
apartheid, 116, 140–41
Arafat, Yasir, 219
Archery, Ga.:
African-Americans as predominant population of, 11, 22, 24, 26, 33
JC’s boyhood in, 5, 6, 7–11, 22–29, 237
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 171, 199
Argentina, 124, 174, 226, 235
Aristide, Jean-Bertrand, 215–16
Arkansas, 80, 91
Armed Forces Institute, U.S., 41
Army Corps of Engineers, 184–85
Arnall, Ellis, 92
Askew, Reubin, 203
Assad, Hafez al-, 139–40, 152, 154
assassinations, 101, 134, 142, 216, 234
alleged CIA plots in, 179
by drone attacks, 181
Atlanta, Ga., 28, 29, 42, 65, 84, 86–87, 100, 105, 108, 113, 116, 123, 206–7, 212, 230
Atlanta Constitution, The, 99
Atlanta Journal, The, 84
atomic reactors, on submarines, 61–63
Australia, 30, 49, 129
Axelrod, David, 221
B-1 bomber, 147–48
B-2 bomber, 148
B-52 bomber, 147–48
Baker, Howard, 137, 159–60
Baker, James, 235
Baker v. Carr, 80, 83
Baptists, 71, 77, 80, 90, 132, 134–35, 165, 183
“pioneer missions of,” 92–97
Baryshnikov, Mikhail, 131
battleships, JC as electronics officer on, 2, 39–43
Baudouin, King of Belgium, 130
Beame, Abraham, 151
Begin, Menachem, 152–57, 153, 208
Beijing, 167, 168, 189, 214
Belgium, 105, 130
Bentsen, Lloyd, 114
Berlin Wall, fall of, 151
Beyond the White House (Jimmy Carter), 228
Biamby, Philippe, 216
Bible, 28, 92, 94, 95, 132, 135, 145, 227, 229, 230
Biltmore Hotel (Atlanta), 86–87
Blair House, 119
Blood of Abraham, The (Jimmy Carter), 225–26
Blumenthal, Michael, 151
Bolivia, 174
Bonner, Yelena, 150
Borlaug, Norman, 211–12
Bosnia, 214
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbian conflict with, 216–19
Bourne, Peter, 106, 177
Boutros-Ghali, Boutros, 217
Brazil, 105, 130, 146, 174
rising global strength of, 236
“breeder reactors,” 161, 192–93
Brezhnev, Leonid, 133, 150–51, 199–200
Brown, Harold, 143, 147, 149, 156, 165–66, 175, 179, 190, 191
Brown, Jerry, 105
Brown, Wesley, 33–34
Brown v. Board of Education, 78
Brzezinski, Zbigniew, 116, 122, 146, 152, 156, 166, 175, 179, 199, 234
Bunker, Ellsworth, 159
Bush, Barbara, 233
Bush, George H. W., 133, 143, 201, 233
JC’s relationship with, 234, 235
Bush, George W.:
JC’s relationship with, 235–36
presidency of, 149, 162, 180, 188, 190, 192, 215
Butler, Landon, 106
Byrd, Robert, 159–60
C-130 airplane, in hostage rescue attempt, 171–72
Callaghan, James, 128, 145–46
Callaway, Bo, 87–88, 89, 91
Call to Action, A: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power (Jimmy Carter), 229, 230
Cambodia, 167, 186, 225
campaign funding, removal of restrictions on, 182–83
Camp David, 122–26, 133, 142, 163, 230
Middle East peace talks at, 154–57, 208
Canada, 52, 105, 129, 146, 190, 198, 225
nuclear power plant accident in, 64–65
cancer, 65–66, 163, 207
Cannon, Howard, 161
Caribbean, 35, 58, 60, 201, 210–11
Carter, Alton “Uncle Buddy,” 13, 69, 72
Carter, Amy, 68, 103, 121–22, 130, 163
education of, 124–25, 227
JC’s relationship with, 127
Carter, Ann, 4
Carter, Bessie Lillian Gordy, 3, 5, 14, 30, 32, 38, 54, 61, 65, 66, 70, 72, 80, 83, 121, 136, 237
as book subject, 228–29
in JC’s election campaign, 113, 116
in JC’s presidency, 129
in LBJ’s election campaign, 89, 90, 162
nursing career of, 7, 23, 25–26, 27, 76, 228
racial equality espoused by, 23, 24, 26, 28, 229
Carter, Billy (JC’s brother), 16, 70, 73, 81, 207
Carter, Caron, 122
Carter, Don, 42, 65, 84, 106
Carter, Gloria, see Spann, Gloria Carter
Carter, Hugh, 84, 98
Carter, Jack, 42, 43, 45, 51, 53, 61, 67–68, 71, 73, 76, 79, 88, 89–90, 98, 112–13, 121
Carter, James Earl, IV, 122
Carter, James Earl, III “Chip,” 53, 61, 67, 73, 76, 88, 89–90, 98, 113, 121, 129
Carter, James Earl, Sr., 3, 5, 15, 25–26, 27, 54, 61, 67–68, 79, 125
civic involvement of, 66
estate of, 69–71, 73
illness and death of, 5, 28, 65–66, 207
JC’s relationship with, 8–19, 22, 30, 65–66, 237
political involvement of, 28–29, 65, 80
racial relationships of, 23–24, 28, 61, 66
Carter, Jason, 121
Carter, Jeffrey, 4, 63, 67–68, 73, 76, 88, 89–90, 98, 113, 121, 127
Carter, Jimmy (James Earl, Jr.):
accidents and physical injuries of, 126–27
athletic pursuits and physical condition of, 125–27, 141
courtship of, 36–39
educational advocacy of, 87–88, 105
engineering skills of, 33
family background and ancestry of, 3–5, 7–11, 73, 228
hobbies and pastimes of, 2, 5, 15–17, 34, 76–77, 228, 230, 231, 232
marital relationship of, 67–68, 81, 88–89, 109, 226, 228, 237–38
missionary commitment of, 92–97
mistakes of, 114, 117, 125–26, 128–29
naval career of, 1, 2, 20, 32, 33–68
painting as avocation of, 16, 21, 27, 41, 230, 231, 232
presidential library and museum of, 146, 169, 198, 207–8, 229, 230
racial equality espoused by, 11, 12, 22–24, 26, 28, 41–42, 44, 66
siblings of, 16, 26, 28, 36, 38, 70, 83, 90
writings of, 2, 154, 204, 206, 220, 225–30, 232; see also specific books and poems
Carter, Jimmy, early years, 2, 5–32, 165, 226, 237
birth of, 5, 26, 27
education of, 7–8, 20, 21–22, 24, 28, 30, 33–36, 71, 76, 157
Carter, Jimmy, Georgia political career:
entry into, 80–88, 226
as governor, 1, 51, 98–109, 110, 111, 112, 118, 122, 123, 124, 138, 144, 146, 185, 190, 203
in state senate, 82, 87–92, 94, 111, 124
Carter, Jimmy, post-presidential years, 2, 3, 135, 172, 204–38, 233
current daily routine of, 230, 238
on future of U.S., 236–37
political involvement of, 232–36
unresolved and ongoing issues in, 177–203
visits to China by, 167–68
Carter, Jimmy, presidency, 1–2, 3, 34, 52, 75, 103, 115, 118–38, 153, 208, 225, 232, 234
cabinet of, 116, 144, 148
campaign for, 106–9, 110–14, 150, 152, 165, 180, 225
Carter family involvement in, 129–30
daily schedule of, 122
election of, 117, 121, 204
entertaining in, 128–29, 130–32
expense-cutting measures in, 122
First Family life in, 118–28
&nb
sp; inauguration of, 97, 118–19, 136, 165, 199
issues resolved in, 139–76
“lame duck” period of, 202
most controversial domestic issue of, 197
most difficult challenge of, 157
most important diplomatic decision of, 167
most stressful period of, 171–73
unresolved issues of, 177–203
Carter, Littleberry Walker, 4–5
Carter, Rosalynn Smith, 37, 233
in Carter Center programs, 207, 213, 214, 215–17, 223, 226
in Carter’s Warehouse business, 88–89
courtship of, 36–39
family history of, 3, 5
as First Lady, 118–19, 128, 129–32, 136, 145, 154, 174, 195, 203
in Habitat for Humanity, 66, 169, 221, 223, 224
integration supported by, 78–79
in JC’s political career, 86, 89, 90, 98, 100, 104, 106, 107, 112, 113, 121, 168, 181, 193, 202, 221, 236
marital relationship of, 67–68, 81, 88–89, 109, 125, 208, 226, 228, 237–38
private life of, 2, 43, 44, 45, 48, 51, 61, 63, 71, 72, 76–77, 80, 81, 90, 93, 102, 135, 230
Carter, Ruth, see Stapleton, Ruth Carter
Carter, Wiley, 4
Carter, William Archibald “Billy” (JC’s grandfather), 4–5
Carter Center, 169, 230, 232, 235–36, 238
activities in China by, 167–68
arrangements for North Korea by, 188
as book subject, 228
disease control initiatives of, 210–11, 236
establishment and mission of, 207–8, 209
international election monitoring by, 222–23, 236
JC’s role at, 206–7
peace initiatives through, 214–22
projects of, 2, 203, 225, 229
Carter’s Warehouse, 75, 79, 80, 88–89, 204
Castro, Fidel, 179, 186–87, 188, 214
Castro, Raul, 188, 214
Catoctin Mountain Park, 122, 125
Cédras, Raoul, 215–16
Cédras, Yannick, 216
Cessna airplane, 99–101
Chalk River, Canada, nuclear power plant accident at, 64–65, 195
Challenger, 196